Why Are Southerners So Fat?

Time ^ | 7/9/2009 | Claire Suddath

[freed0misntfree]

People from Mississippi are fat. With an adult obesity rate of 33%, Mississippi gobbled its way to the "chubbiest state" crown for the fifth year in a row, according to a new joint report by Trust For America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Alabama, West Virginia, and Tennessee aren't far behind, with obesity rates over 30%. In fact, eight out of the 10 fattest states are in the South. The region famous for its biscuits, barbecue and pecan pies has been struggling with its weight for years — but then again, so has the rest of the country. Wisconsin loves cheese, New Yorkers scarf pizza, and New Englanders have been known to enjoy a crab cake or two. So why is the South so portly?

[Peter Horry]

“Sorry I meant Most Southerners are lazy”

Would you please enlighten us, exactly how did you reach this conclusion.

[Tunehead54]

Here's Miss Missisippi ... ;-)

[Married with Children]

I’ve seen people ride their lawnmowers to the mailbox although they were elderly.

[mysterio]

Yep. After losing my extra weight, I have to exercise and weigh daily (as well as controlling portions) to keep it off. And my metabolism is slow, so I end up being hungry a lot of the time. I don’t like that part of it, but I like having a 23 BMI.

[Arrowhead1952]

Here is my favorite eating place.

Southside BBQ, Elgin, Texas

[Albion Wilde]

If Celebrities Moved to Oklahoma

OMG! Side-splitting! Whoever did that is a PhotoShop genius!

[wintertime]

They didn’t mention genetics. The South has a higher percentage of blacks. Are blacks genetically more prone to obesity?

And....Is the average age of those in Colorado younger than in Mississippi? That would make a difference as well. What is the percentage of the black population in Colorado?

[Albion Wilde]

I wonder, with plentiful food, has anyone ever investigated the possibility that southern humans add fat as a buffer to the heat and humidity? What if people in subsaharan Africa had plentiful food, would they also become fat as a buffer?

I'm not following your logic -- a buffer against what? Can you explain a little more? Example: in many hot cultures, from Mexico to India, the food is very spicy. This is thought to have evolved before the days of refrigeration and rapid transport because food spoils more quickly in hot climates, and the spices counteract the "off" taste.

[-YYZ-]

“Perv dangers, not laziness.”

Couldn’t they just walk them to the bus stop?

[Albion Wilde]

...add fat as a buffer to the heat and humidity?

Just another thought: I have always understood fat as something people add during the cold winter months to line the stomach and intestines so that food breaks down more slowly -- part of the primitive hybernation instinct of not wanting to go out hunting in the winter, but survive for longer without eating. So I'm not following your "heat and humidity" theory.

[MHGinTN]

Fat holds a lot of water, which is a necessity for perspiration. Latent heat of evaporation cools the body.

Fat around the vital organ region acts as an insulator to moderate temp increase and decrease rate.

[MHGinTN]

Grab your ‘guilty/not guilty’ bag ...

[wintertime]

That is my experience as well.

I count every calorie, weight daily, and go to the gym 6 days a week. And....I am constantly hungry.

You are right about the slow metabolism, too. To lose a half pound a week I must eat less than 1200 calories. To maintain my weight I don’t dare go over 1600 calories.

[Albion Wilde]

Southerners have always eaten the food many describe. So, why all of a sudden does it make them fat? I believe it is related to what is in the food. For example, instead of sugar, most companies now use high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). That is a fundamental change and many suspect it is a major culprit.

That's an excellent theory. That, plus all of today's packaged and prepared convenience foods contain more sugars, fats and salt. There's the lack of hard agricultural work, the airconditioning and driving, and high percentage of African-Americans (who appear prone to putting on weight), or perhaps it is the poverty factor, where people eat more carbs like rice, white bread and biscuits, potatoes and pork by-products because they are cheap and filling. I think we're summing it up.

[ejonesie22]

Southerners are too busy eatin’ to talk, that is what one does after desert...

Yankees talk during a meal. I see that as an indictment on their less than desirable culinary skills...

[Allegra]

We invented TEX MEX that Northerners have recently discovered.

And Yankees still don't make it the right way.

Puh-leeze...chili con queso that looks like yellow plastic?

Salsa that has about as much zing as kethcup?

Margaritas made with powdered mix?

Carboard-flavored tortilla chips?

[Albion Wilde]

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the nation’s largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to health and healthcare issues, launched a massive national public awareness campaign to increase enrollment in SCHIP.....

Your usual inimitable research skills, kcvl. Thanks for the update about the usual leftward drift of most do-good organizations. Also see post 168 for "fair and balanced".

[EDINVA]

I’m going to look for Claire’s article about Mississippi and other southern states being the largest donors to charity per capita, despite lowest per capita incomes (and that weight thing). I’ll post it when I find it. Just don’t hold your breath.

[Mount Athos]

SWEET TEA
SWEET TEA

[MHGinTN]

Stick around, I’ll kick yer arse after my afternoon nap ...